A Melbourne city employee has been suspended without pay for making a sign honoring Deputy Barbara Pill.

Police officers said they are outraged over the suspension and said it is disrespectful for Pill and her family, but officials said the sign was made without permission.

"How do you suspend someone for honoring a hero?" said Police Benevolent Association spokesman Mike Scudiero.

Nate Powell, a supervisor, had the sign made at the city's sign shop. Powell will lose a day of pay for commissioning the sign.

The suspension letter from the city engineer accuses Powell of insubordination, defiance and called his actions evasive.

The letter goes on to say that the sign was not approved by the designated supervisor and it was placed in a county right-of-way, which are violations of city procedure.

Police officers said they would not speak publicly for fear of retaliation and asked a union representative to speak for them.

"The city manager needs to really look himself in the mirror and find out why he would choose to treat law enforcement this way," said Scudiero. "And now he is taking it out on a city employee who was doing a very honorable thing."

The sign is in the location where Pill was shot and includes her agency, ID number and the symbol for the end of watch.

Pill was shot and killed March 6 by Brandon Bradley, according to authorities.